Snap hook



Jan. 23, 1934. G. w. s'l 'owELL 1,944,475

SNAP HOOK Original Filed Feb. 12, 1932 Patented Jan. 23, 1934 Price SNAP HOOK I Gilbert W. Stowell, Mackinaw, Ill.

Application February 12, 1932, Serial No. 592,463 Renewed May 26, 1933 10 Claims. (01. 24236) My invention relates more particularly to snap hooks intended primarily for use upon rain coats and similar garments and particularly those garments worn by firemen, though of course it is not limited to such use but may be advantageous-- 1y used for a variety of other purposes as will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains.

One object of my invention isthe provision of a hook which may be engaged or disengaged by the use of one hand only.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a hook, which, when its ring or eye is engaged therewith, issafe against accidental engagement with hanging wires or othersimilar conditions met with in service.

Another object of my invention isthe provision of a hook which is cheap to produce, composed of a minimum number of'parts, and which is efiicient in action.

7 Other objects of my invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present hook construction will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The novelty of my invention will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically pointed out' in the claims appended hereto.

V In the drawing which accompanies and .forms a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. l is a plan view of my improved snap hook;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectionshowingthe ring or loop engaged with the hook portion;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the dotted line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and looking in the direction of the arrow; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the dotted line 4-4 of Fig. 2, and looking in the direction of the arrow. V

As illustrating one form of device embodying my invention, though without limiting myself to the details of construction or arrangement of parts shown and to be herein described, but availingmyself of all changes and modifications which may be made within thescope of the appended claims, I have shown a snap hook comprising a hollow, cast metal body portion 5 which consists of a pair of laterally spaced side walls 5*, a front wall 5 and a rear wall 5, and supports an upstanding, overlying hook portion 6 comprising a pair of depending, inwardly turned,'ring-engaging members 6*. Lugs 7 are formed integrally with and project outwardly from the bottom parts of the side walls of the body portion 5 and have apertures formed therein whereby the body portion may be attached to a firemans rain coat or other garment. A V-shaped leaf spring 8 is mounted withinthe body portion and is arranged so that the end part of one of thelegs thereof rests upon a crossbar 9 and abuts against a'rib 10 on the crossbar 9. The other leg of the spring bears against the inner ends of the ring-engaging members 6 of the hook portions 6 and normally closes the restricted entrance or throat part between said members. The bent central partof the spring fits in a seat 5 which isformed' as an integral part of the rear wall 5 of the body portion and is located adjacent the base of thehook 7 portion 6. The rear end of the body portion 5 embodies a comparatively large bottom opening 5 directly in back of the crossbar 9 to permit the spring to be inserted into place in the body portion during assembly of the hook. In inserting the spring into place the ends of the legs are first compressed and inserted into the opening 5 and then the spring is shifted forwardly in order to bring the bent part into the seat'5 at the base of the hook portion 6. During forward shift of the spring, the lowermost leg snaps into place on the crossbar 9 and in conjunction with the rib 10 locks the spring against displacement. In order to permit of ready removal of the spring,

the body portion 5 is provided with a'bottom opening 5 directly in front of the crossbar 9. By inserting any suitable instrument through this opening into engagement with the extreme outer end of the uppermost leg of the spring and then shifting the instrument rearwardly, the spring, after dislodgment of the bent part from the seat 5, may be removed through the opening 5' A'throat 12 is formed in the side Walls of the body portion 5and forms a passage for the engagement of an ordinary D-shaped ring 13 which is shown in the drawing as being secured by a loop 14 to that portion of the garment which is to be held by the hook. This throat is slightly curved and leads to the restricted entrance between the inwardly extending ring-engagingmembers of the hook portion 6. The uppermost leg of the U-shaped spring 8 is longer than the lowermost leg and extends across the throat so that when the ring is inserted into the throat for shiftinto the hook portion 6 the spring is compressed to free the entrance to the hook portion. The extreme outer end of the upper leg of the spring normally engages an overhanging lip 5 which is formed as an integral part of the front wall of the body portion 5 and coacts with the side walls to form the entrance to the throat 12. This lip limits outward movement of the uppermost leg of the spring. 7 y i The lower edge of the body portion is provided with drainage channels 15 to permit the escape of any water which might accumulate within the body portion 5 during use.

In use, the body portion is riveted a certain distance back from one of the edges of the garment and the ring 13 is applied to the other and overlapping edge. It is to be noted, particularly from Fig. 2, that when the ring is engaged with the hook portion, the outside surface across both ring-.andhookportion is continuous and no hang-- the snap cooperates with the bill of thehook, the

snap and the end of the bill being away from the surface of the garment, there have been a number of instances where firemen have been seriously impeded in their work by wires becoming engaged with the hook which makes it neces- .,'-sary fortthe fireman to release the snap and dis- :engage the wire from the hook before he can proceed and this condition is a great hazard to ..the fireman,.and particularly if the wire happens to be charged with electricity because it is nec-J -;essary for the fireman to grasp the wire with his a hand whilereleasing it from his hook.

In addition, to release the ordinary hook requires the ..use of one hand to release the snap and the other ,one hand, leaving the other hand free.

hand to disengage the ring whereas with my hook, the ring may beeither engaged or disengaged with .To .engage the ring, it is only necessary to enter it into the throat 12 and :forcethe spring 8 downward whenpviewed from the position in Fig. 1 2, untiltheringenters its recess or entrance un- I. derlthe hook portion, and it is to. be noted that.

I 'when the ring is engaged with the hook portion, it lies clear of the spring as the point of the hook 5- portion is'turned back under the 'ring thus relieving the spring of any function ofmaintaining the ringyengaged with the hook portion.

To release the ring it is only necessary to move it downward into contact with the spring and then ;.compress'the spring-by further downward pres- -sure onthe ring and withdraw the ring through xthe throat 12, all of the operation being performed by; a single motion f one hand.

-With the hooks at present in use, in which the hook portionitself is reversed, and in which the @end of the bill stands away from the garment instead of towardit, it is necessary to provide a readily seen, it is only necessary to move the ring better, fitting garments may bermade with my hook than formerly because the amount of slack in the garment, necessary in order to, hook or aunhook the ring with the ordinary hook, is practically all eliminated by the use of my hook.

Itwill be seen from the above that I have produced a hook. of cheap and efficient construction; onepthat, may be easily and quickly operated;

@onethat requires the use of only one hand; and one which, when its ring is engaged with it, is entirely safe from accidental engagement with wires and the dangers incident thereto.

Having thus fully described my invention, I

1? claim:

:portion having securement ,means and including canoverlying hook portion disposed centrally of said body portion comprising a pair of depending inwardly turned ring engaging members forming a throat opening into said hollow body :portion and forminga continuation of said throat opening out of said hollow-body portion for the introduction of a ring thereinto and between said ring engaging members, and a spring disposed within saidbody portion and extending across said throat continuation thereof and normally engaging the depending ends of said ring engaging members whereby to close the throat opening between said members and the throat continuation thereof.

2. A snap hook, in combination, a hollow body portion having securement means and including an overlying hook portion disposed centrally of vsaid body portioncomprising a depending inwardly turned ring engaging member forming a throat opening into said hollow body portion and forming a continuation of said throat opening out of said body portion for the introduction of a ring thereinto whereby to be embraced by said ring engaging member, and a spring disposed within said body portion and extending acrosssaid throat and continuation thereof and normally engaging the depending end of said ring engaging member whereby to close .the throat opening into said member and the throat continuation thereof.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a snap hook adapted to receive a ring and comprising a an elongated hollow body provided with means for attachment to a garment or other article and embodying a pair of laterally spaced side walls and a ring-receiving hook overlying the body,

said hook being attached to one end of the body and including a depending inwardly turned member forming a restricted ring entrancefacing'the body,-the side walls of the body being shaped to form a throat leading from the entrance and opening at the other end of the body, and serving to guide the ring to and from the entrance,

and a leaf spring confined within the body between the sides and arranged'so that it extends across the restricted entrance and the throat and overlapping margins of a garment orlike article and comprising an elongated hollow body provided with means for attachment to the other considerable range of movement for the ring in order to engage it with and disengage it from the ,hook portion, whereas, with my hook, as can be margin of thegarment or article, adapted to be arranged in a position wherein it extends transversely of said other margin and in longitudi-' nal alignment with the ring and embodying a 'a very slight distance to engage it with or disen- 1 .gage it fromthe hook portion with the result :that

pair of laterallyspaced side walls and a ringreceiving hook overlying the body, said hook being attached to the end of the body farthest from .the ring. and including a depending in-' end of the body nearest the ring and serving to? guide the ring to and from the entrance, and a leaf spring carried by the body and arranged so that it extends across the restricted entrance and the throat and operates yieldingly to close said entrance and throat.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a snap hook adapted to receive a ring and comprising an elongated hollow body provided with means for attachment to a garment or other article and embodying a pair of laterally spaced side walls and a ring-receiving hook overlying the body, said hook being attached to one end of the body and including a depending inwardly turned member forming a restricted ring entrance facing the body, the side walls of the body being shaped to form a throat leading from the entrance and opening at the other end of the body and serving to guide the ring to and from the entrance, and a leaf spring disposed in the body between the sides and having one end thereof applied to said one end of the body at substantially the base of the hook and its other end extending normally across and closing the restricted entrance and the throat and free so that it may be depressed in order to open the entrance and throat and thus permit of shift of the ring into or out of the hook.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a'snap hook adapted to receive a ring and comprising an elongated hollow body provided with means for attachment to a garment or other article and embodying a pair of laterally spaced side walls and a cross wall with an overhanging lip at one end of the body, a hook for receiving the ring attached to the other end of the body so that it overlies the body and including a depending inwardly turned member forming a restricted ring entrance facing the body, the side walls of the body being shaped to form a throat leading from the hook entrance and opening at said one end of the body adjacent the lip of the aforesaid cross wall and serving to guide the ring to and from the entrance, and a leaf spring disposed in the body between the sides and having one end thereof applied to said one end of the body at substantially the base of the hook and its other end extending normally across the restricted entrance and the throat and abutting against the lip on the cross wall and free so that it may be depressed out of engagement with the lip in order to open the entrance and throat for insertion of the ring into the hook or removal of the ring from the hook.

7. As a new article of manufacture, a snap hook adapted to receive a ring and comprising an elongated hollow body provided with means for attachment to a garment or other article and embodying a pair of laterally spaced side walls and a ring-receiving hook overlying the body, said hook being attached to one end of the body and including a depending inwardly turned member forming a restricted ring entrance facing the body, the side walls of the body being shaped to form a throat leading from the entrance and opening at the other end of the body and serving to guide the ring to and from the entrance, a U-shaped leaf spring confined within the body between the sides and arranged so that one leg thereof extends across the restricted entrance and the throat and operates yieldingly to close said entrance and throat, and means associated with the body and applied to the other leg of the spring for holding the spring in place within the body.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a snap hook adapted to receive a ring comprising an elongated hollow body provided with means for attachment to a garment or other article and embodying a pair of laterally spaced side walls, a crossbar at the bottom of the body and between the central portions of the side wall and aringreceiving hook overlying the body, said hook being attached to one end of the body and including a depending inwardly turned member forming a restricted ring entrance facing the body; the side walls of the body being shaped to form a throat leading from the entrance and opening at the other end of the body, and serving to guide the ring to and from the entrance, and a U-shaped leaf spring disposed in the body so that the curved central part thereof is applied to said one end of the body and having one of its legs extending across the restricted entrance and the throat and operating yieldingly to close said entrance and throat and the other leg thereof bearing against the cross bar.

- 9. As a new article of manufacture, a snap hook adapted to receive a ring and comprising an elongated hollow body provided with means for attachment to a garment or other article and embodying a pair of laterally spaced side walls and a pair of end walls between the ends of the side walls, one of said end walls having an overhanging lip and the other end wall being shaped on the inside thereof to form a seat, a hook attached to the end of the body having said other end wall in such a manner that it overlies the body and including a depending inwardly turned member forming a restricted ring entrance facing the body, the side walls of the body being shaped to form a curved throat leading from the entrance and opening at the end of the body having said one end wall and adjacent the lip, a U-shaped leaf spring disposed in the body and arranged so that the bent central part thereof fits in the seat on the inside of said otherend wall of the body and one end thereof extends across the restricted entrance and the throat and abuts against the lip and is free so'that it may be depressed out of engagement with the lip and so as to open the entrance and the throat for insertion of the ring into the hook or removal of the ring from the hook, and means associated with the body and applied to the other leg of the spring for holding the spring in place in the body.

10. As a new article of manufacture, a snap hook adapted to receive a ring and comprising an elongated hollow body provided with means for attachment to a garment or other article and embodying a pair of laterally spaced side walls and a pair of end walls between the ends of the side walls, one of said end walls having an overhanging lip and the other end wall being shaped on the inside thereof to form a seat,Ia hook attached to the end of the body having said other end wall in such a manner that it overlies the body and including a depending inwardly turned member forming a restricted ring entrance facing the body, the side walls of the body being shaped to form a curved throat leading from the entrance andopening at the end of the body having said one end wall and adjacent the lip, a U-shaped leaf spring disposed in the body and ar ranged so that the bent centralpart thereof fits in the seat on the inside of said other end wall of the body and one end thereof extends across the restricted entrance and the throat and abuts against the lip and is free so that it may be depressed out of engagement with the lip and so as to open the entrance andthe throat for insertion of the ring into the hook or removal of the ring from the hook, and means applied to the other leg of the spring for'holding the spring in place in the body comprising a crossbar be tween the central portions of the sides of the body and having a rib engaged by the end edge of saidother leg of the spring.

GILBERT W. STOWELL. 

